Timothy C. Tucker, Chief Instructor, R22/R44 Safety Course, Robinson Helicopter Company, is the recipient of Helicopter Association International’s (HAI) 2004 Joe Mashman Safety Award. This award was presented at HELI-EXPO in Anaheim, California, during the Helicopter Association International’s 44th annual “Salute to Excellence” awards ceremony.

As Chief Instructor for Robinson Helicopter Company’s R22/R44 Safety Course since 1982, Mr. Tucker has had a tremendous impact on reducing helicopter accidents. The safety course targets helicopter owners and operators, focusing on the main causes of fatal helicopter accidents. In the past, over 800 pilots a year have attended the course held monthly at Robinson, and a record 1,011 pilots attended in 2004. As an FAA Accident Prevention Counselor, Mr. Tucker applied for and received an FAA waiver so that a pilot’s attendance at this course meets all  the requirements for a full phase of the FAA’s Pilot Proficiency (Wings) Program. As a result, 40-45 new pilots each month now complete the first phase of this outstanding safety program.

In 1992, Mr. Tucker began conducting R22/R44 safety seminars abroad. To date, twenty-four helicopter safety seminars have been conducted in thirteen countries spanning six continents. In 2004, the overseas safety seminar program had over 300 helicopter pilots attending Mr. Tucker’s seminars. Mr. Tucker frequently donates his time giving free lectures to helicopter safety seminars conducted by pilot organizations and the FAA around the United States. He has assisted a number of local FAA FSDOs around the country in addressing local helicopter concerns.

Since 1984, Mr. Tucker has been one of the country’s most active FAA Designated Pilot Examiners, and one of only a handful of examiners authorized to conduct tests in ten different makes and models. Working closely with 16 flight schools and 19 law enforcement agencies, he has helped insure a high regard for helicopter safety in the busy southern California area. Mr. Tucker was selected as HAI’s “Salute to Excellence” Outstanding Flight Instructor for 2000. He has authored numerous articles for magazines and newsletters, and authored the Robinson R22 Flight Training Guide, which has become the foundation for R22 flight training around the world.

Tucker’s thirty-four years of experience and accomplishment during his 18,000-hour helicopter career have made a large and important contribution to the helicopter industry, and his educational contributions have greatly impacted helicopter safety around the world, raising standards and saving lives in the process. HAI’s Safety Award was first presented in 1987. The award was re-named in 1994 in memory of Joe Mashman, noted helicopter pioneer, whose contributions virtually parallel the development of the civil helicopter industry. The Joe Mashman Safety Award acknowledges outstanding contributions in the promotion of safety and safety awareness throughout the civil helicopter industry.

FMI: www.robinsonheli.com